Bloomington High School’s cell phone ban will move forward in the fall, after the District 87 school board approved handbook language related to the policy at its meeting on Wednesday.
BHS principal Tim Moore said he expects teachers will put their cell phones away during class, too.
“We can’t tell students they can’t have their phones out, and while they’re working independently you’re [teachers] at your desk on your phone,” said Moore. “So we have talked about the teachers to lead by example.”
Moore said a tiered system of consequences for breaking the rule will be implemented, though the exact details aren’t yet worked out.
During the meeting, District 87 Superintendent David Mouser also weighed in on implementation challenges.
The policy will begin with students keeping devices in their own bags as the most affordable and trusting option, and work from there, said Mouser, who also hopes students’ families will help support the policy.
“When we call home and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got this issue,’ are you going to support as a parent what we’re trying to do here at school to make sure the kids aren’t distracted and are able to learn in the classroom,” said Mouser.
In most regards, the district’s policy is similar to what Gov. JB Pritzker is currently advocating at the state level. That ban has begun its journey through the Illinois legislature.
District 87’s policy would extend to other personal devices like tablets and include exceptions for disability-related uses and lunch periods. Any district-provided electronics for educational purposes will remain as well.
Moore said many students already will be used to policies against phones in the classroom when they reach high school, courtesy of many teachers who have their own restrictions in place. That, too, could be a boon for implementation.
Property tax abatement
Chief Financial and Facilities Officer Michael Cornale said the district will keep its word to provide property tax relief with new revenue from the countywide sales tax that was approved by voters on April 1. The $2 million figure is derived from one-third of a revenue estimate from the tax.
“Should it [revenue] exceed $6 million, we’ll hold true to the third," he said. "So, if it’s more than 6 million it’s going to be a third, if it’s less than 6 million, you’re going to get the 2 million."
$2 million will serve as a floor for property tax abatement, and if the tax outperforms revenue estimates, there will be more, Cornale said.
Cornale said the district will spend the tax money with care based on how much is generated, in order to hold to the property tax commitment.
CPR training day
The 330 students comprising the eighth grade class at Bloomington Junior High School will soon participate in some potentially life-saving training.
Illinois State University marketing senior Jensyn Taff is behind the project as part of an internship with the Bloomington Fire Department. BFD Public Information Officer Frank Friend was at the meeting as Taff presented the concept to the board.
“We want to educate Bloomington Junior High School on how to perform CPR. Our purpose is to prevent and lessen cardiac arrest incidents in the community,” Taff said.
On May 7, volunteers will train students using CPR practice dummies. Two students will be assigned to each and take turns. The students will not receive a certification, but will learn valuable skills, Friend said.
Though some volunteers may have medical experience already, Friend said they’ll be trained first, so they can pass on CPR skills to the students. In addition to the fire department, the event will partner with State Farm, Carle Hospital, and other college students.
Board elects new officers
Also, the board swore in its re-elected and elected officers.
After unanimous votes [one member, Veleda Harvey, was absent], Charles Irwin will serve as board president, and the vice president will be Brigette Gibson.
